巴西亚马孙流域热带森林的开垦与大豆生产:以朗多尼亚州维列纳市为例

近来巴西大豆生产的增长引发了环境保护团体以及一些学者对于亚马孙盆地的热带自然环境正在向大豆种植地转换的关注.大豆生产的支持者则认为大豆是区域的一种可行性农产品;对于环境的关注是没有根据的,因为新的大豆种植地正在替代已经被砍伐的林地或者是转换了的土地.两种观点虽被提出却都没有对大豆生产扩充区的土地利用与土地覆被(LULC)状况进行过综合研究与估量.本案例研究是在巴西的朗多尼亚州,亚马孙盆地西南部的维列纳市(Vimena),通过遥感手段对1996～2001年以来该市大豆种植面积的大幅度增加所伴随的土地利用与土地覆被变化状况进行评估.结果表明虽然森林变成了大豆生产基地,但是大部分的大豆生产的增长归功于对已有土地的微量扩充、已伐林地的转换以及更高的单位产量.     

Rapid detection of numerical aberrations of chromosomes 13, 18 and 21 in chorionic mesenchymal cells

We have devised and evaluated a rapid screening method for the detection of numerical aberrations of chromosomes13, 18 and 21 in chorionic villus cells. We used non-radioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) with three chromosome-specific probes on overnight-attached mesenchymal cells from chorionic villi. A blind study was performed of 47 karyotypically normal samples, one triploid sample, two samples trisomic for chromosome 21, and two samples from a fetus with putative mosaicism (46/47, +21). All samples were hybridized with the chromosome 18- and 21-specific probes. Thirty samples were additionally hybridized with the chromosome 13-specific probe. The test could be completed within 3-4 days of sampling. In samples disomic with respect to the probed chromosomes, an average of 2 per cent (range 0-9 per cent) had three hybridization signals. By contrast, in the samples trisomic for the probed chromosome(s), 57 per cent (chromosome 13), 51 per cent (chromosome 18), and an average of 74 per cent (55-86 per cent) (chromosome 21) of the nuclei exhibited three signals. In the putative mosaic samples, the number of nuclei with three chromosome 21-specific signals ranged from 41 to 69 per cent. We conclude that this technique rapidly and clearly distinguishes between normal and trisomic/triploid samples, and consequently may be of use in future prenatal diagnosis.     

Superovulation fails to increase human blastocyst yield after uterine lavage

Uterine lavage affords the potential for non-invasive human blastocyst recovery, with obvious potential for preimplantation genetic diagnosis. In an effort to duplicate in women the multiple blastocyst recovery per cycle that can be achieved in several other species, we initiated a programme in which fertile women underwent superovulation, followed by lavage and embryo collection. We superovulated 15 fertile women, aged 21–40, in 29 cycles using one of four regimens. Insemination was by either intercourse or artificial intracervical donor insemination with cryopreserved sperm from men of proven fertility. In 28 of 29 cycles, the uterus was lavaged daily for 1, 2, or 3 days between 5 and 10 days after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration or luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Almost total fluid volume was recovered in every lavage. There were no retained pregnancies and no complications. Surprisingly, only two morulae, one blastocyst, and four unfertilized ova were recovered. Thus, alterations in ovulation induction, insemination timing, or lavage techniques must be contemplated in order to increase the blastocyst yield and thus fulfil the potential of uterine lavage for preimplantation diagnosis.     

Sanfilippo D syndrome: Correction of glucosamine-6-sulphatase deficiency following fibroblast culture in chang's media

The de-O-sulphation of α-linked glucosamine-6-sulphate residues in heparan sulphate requires a specific sulphatase, glucosamine-6-sulphatase, which has been shown to be deficient in tissues of Sanfilippo D, or mucopolysaccharidosis type IIID (MPS IIID), patients. MPS IIID fibroblasts cultured in Basal Eagle's medium supplemented with either fetal calf serum or heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, MDCB or Ultraserg media had residual glucosarnine-6-sulphatase activities towards a heparin-derived trisaccharide substrate, O-(α-N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulphate)-(1→4)-L -O-(α-iduronic acid-2-sulphate)-(1→4)-D -O-2,5-anhydro [1-³H]mannitol-6-sulphate, GlcNAc6S-IdoA2S-anM6S, which were less than 1 per cent of the normal range for fibroblasts cultured in Basal Eagle's medium supplemented with fetal calf serum. However, the glucosamine-6-sulphatase activities of MPS IIID fibroblasts grown in Chang's medium were similar to the activities in normal control fibroblasts which were cultured in Basal Eagle's medium. These results indicate that caution is required for prenatal diagnosis of MPS IIID patients using chorionic villi or amniotic cells cultured in Chang's medium.     

Industrial ecology: a new field or only a metaphor?

In the 10 years since industrial ecology first became a topic of academic interest, it has grown as a field of inquiry and has produced a community of practice in several sectors including academia, business, and government. Even as the shape of industrial ecology becomes clearer, questions remain as to its lasting power beyond the metaphor that gave it its distinctiveness. This paper examines the development of industrial ecology and assesses its progress towards becoming a field of academic inquiry. And, in a related analysis, I look at the progress industrial ecology has made in establishing itself as an institutional (cultural) basis for action in the above sectors. Ideas like industrial ecology must become institutionalized if they are to have much effect on the reality of everyday activities.